Leaders' going 'unselfish': Joyce

The federal Coalition remains in disarray, following the resignations of both deputy Liberal leader Peter Costello and the Nationals leader Mark Vaile.

Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce says he has been shocked by the move.

He paid tribute to both men after Mr Vaile announced he would step down from the leadership in the wake of his party's dismal performance in Saturday's poll.

"I think it's a very unselfish move by Mr Costello and Mr Vaile and they realise that change is required and so you should clear the decks for change to happen and they're doing that, you know the selfish thing is to hang around," he said.

Meanwhile, the Greens candidate for the seat of Lyne, Susie Russell, says the result locally reflected a general discontent with both major parties.

Ms Russell says she was encouraged by a small increase of around 2 per cent in the Greens' primary vote.

She says the two-party preferred figures in Lyne did not reflect the extent of the move away from the sitting member.

Ms Russell says the swing away from the Coalition should mean more attention will be paid to the electorate over the next four years by both sides of politics.

"A move away from Lyne being a safe National party seat that can be taken for granted," she said.

"It's at least 5 per cent against the sitting member and that moves it into the territory where at the next election it is just possible that the seat could change hands."